PM rewards loyalists in mini-shuffle
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 1 September 2023
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Rishi Sunak has prepared for the new political term with a mini-shuffle, promoting his closest political ally Claire Coutinho to energy secretary and Grant Shapps to defence secretary. What do the limited changes say about the PM’s grip on his party? The FT’s Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by columnist Stephen Bush and political correspondent Anna Gross to analyse the shake-up. Plus, what, if anything, did James Cleverly’s visit to China achieve? And Lucy is also joined by the FT’s public policy editor Peter Foster to examine how the UK government is coping with post-Brexit rule changes.
Follow Lucy on Twitter: @LOS_Fisher
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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‘Safe pair of hands’ Grant Shapps appointed UK defence secretary
UK foreign secretary hits back at Tory critics of China policy
UK government announces fifth delay to post-Brexit border controls on food
Clips from: BBC
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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | At Bayes Business School, we're curious, going beyond just theory, having the courage to do things differently. |
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| 0:18.0 | A place to broaden knowledge and contribute to meaningful change in the world of business. |
| 0:24.0 | Bayes Business School, always learning. |
| 0:27.0 | Bayes Business School was formerly cast business school. |
| 0:34.0 | You know, the UK is like a little iceberg that carved off this regulatory ice sheet that is the European Union. |
| 0:41.0 | And even if we stand still, the EU is constantly moving. |
| 0:48.0 | Welcome to Political Fix, your essential insider guide to Westminster. |
| 0:52.0 | From the financial times with me, Lucy Fisher. |
| 0:55.0 | You heard they're the FT's Peter Foster, giving his appraisal of where we are in the Brexit process. |
| 1:00.0 | Coming up, as Grant Chaps moves to his fifth job in 12 months, what can we expect from the UK's new Defence Secretary? |
| 1:08.0 | We'll also ask what, if anything, did James Cleveley's visit to China achieve? |
| 1:12.0 | And, from water quality to food imports, we'll check in on how the government is dealing with EU rules. |
| 1:18.0 | I'm joined in the studio by FT columnist and political fix regular Stephen Bush. |
| 1:22.0 | Hi, Stephen. |
| 1:23.0 | Hi, Lucy. |
| 1:24.0 | And FT political correspondent Anna Gross. Hi, Anna. |
| 1:27.0 | Hi, Lucy. |
| 1:30.0 | So, first up, as ever, Stephen Watts caught your imagination this week. |
| 1:35.0 | My highlight of the week was an interview that Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave with the Sunday Telegraph, |
| 1:39.0 | in which she ruled out any form of wealth taxes. |
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